Canadian Rockies / Vancouver trip

[CelieandNettie]

DH and I have been invited to stay with friends on Vancouver Island summer 26. We’re thinking of having a week on the island (too long?) then a road trip from Vancouver to do the Rockies then fly back from Calgary to UK. We could have 3 weeks in total to be away
Anyone done something like this ? Should we rent a camper van for the road trip or a car ? Where to stay ? Any advice greatly appreciated

I absolutely loved Vancouver Island - we stayed at Tofino and I think it's one of my favourite places in the whole world. A week on VI would be a treat!

Vancouver city is good fun and has lots to see - easily enough for 2 or 3 days. We didn't get to the Rockies but enjoyed the drive to Whistler (if not Whistler itself - a bit plastic).

We did a few days in Vancouver, flew up to Calgary for Banff, then drove back to Whistler. If I did it again, I would fly both directions as a fair bit of the drive is not attractive!

I'd go longer on VI too - we did some days in Tofino and some in Victoria, and there are other places we'd very happily go next time.

if you do go the RV route, book Banff and Lake Louise campgrounds early as they fill quickly.

You can book online on the National Parks website starting in January.

I loved Vancouver Island and could’ve stayed there for months. Vancouver OK but kinda dull, I found Calgary to be a much more interesting city. Whistler horrible, Banff very very very busy.

Stayed in B&Bs mostly, a couple of hotels and a lodge. Canadians super friendly and helpful to tourists, very easy to travel about.

Sounds amazing, we went to BC and the Rockies last year and I adored it. Didn't make it to Vancouver Island as we only had two weeks but would love to in future and a week is not too long, especially if you're going to see friends. VI is just under half the size of Ireland. I'd stay in Tofino and Victoria.

Absolutely loved Vancouver city too, I can't imagine finding it dull. The views alone with the sea and the mountains and the city skyline, plus Granville Island, Stanley Park, North Vancouver... loved it, want to move there. Also contrary to PP (and unexpectedly) we loved Whistler. It is a bit like Disneyland but in a good way (for clarity, I wouldn't set foot in Disney).

I don't like camping so I'd rent a car and book rooms along the way. If your friends live out there I'm sure they'd have great advice?

did a month last year. Hired a motorhome. Had a couple of days in a hotel in Vancouver before picking up the motorhome. Vancouver is an amazing city, scenery fantastic, architecture amazing. Could have stayed there longer. We did picked up the RV and did VI, (wonderful, could have stayed longer), Lilloet, Clearwater, Whistler, Banf, Revelstoke, Oliver and back to Vancouver. Was stunning but preferred the scenery on the earlier part of the trip.

the road from VI up to Whistler is beyond amazing.

Thanks everyone. After reading a bit online it seems the road trip from Calgary to Vancouver is a no. Flights between the 2 seem a far better idea. Looking at accommodation in Banff - Blimy that’s pricey !!

Vancouver Island has a cool vibe and Tofino is my most favourite place

Did you look at the Rocky Mountaineer train? I haven’t done it but it looks lovely.

I agree with @BBadActingParsley 100%¡

We did a similar length trip a few years ago. Couple of days in Vancouver, cycle tour of the city, Capilano Bridge, drove through VI (Victoria is very weird and absolutely not worth it) but make sure you go to Alert Bay and go whale watching with Seasmoke. The town itself is a bit sad but there’s a good First Nations museum. A trek but highly recommended.

we did a big drive north through Whistler (hated it - so fake, and expensive - even the ski lifts for the interesting hikes are eye watering)) stayed in a hostel in Banff, just to experience the drive between the two which is spectacular. Forget lake Louise, car park next to a big lake. Hike to Garabaldi lakes instead for stunning green lakes. Get there early as it gets busy (and hot).

we did a loop up through Cache Creek and 100 Mile House, nothing for miles, but was amazing to experience the emptiness and landscape. Nimpo Lake is nice for an overnight stay. We ended up in Bella Coola, again nothing much there but the somewhat forgotten First Nations people but that was interesting in itself. Ferry back down to VI.

that wasn’t the exact itinerary but it’s a picture of what we did for about 2 weeks, then we stayed in a very cool place called Knights Inlet to see bears.

we did an even crazier loop the following year up to Whitehorse in the Yukon - now that is wild landscape! And full of bears. I think we had about 20 sightings in the wild alone.

Banff has a couple of youth hostels at least one of which does private rooms - should be a lot cheaper than hotels. Or else do like lots of people and stay in Canmore and visit Banff on a day trip. It’s a gorgeous town and well worth visiting. View of the mountains from the high street is great, as is the river and the view of the Fairmont from the footbridge.

Make sure you do lots of hiking. You can’t really “do” the Rockies without some long adventurous walks (preferably also climbing and mountain biking!). If you’re not the outdoorsy type and/or you have young children with you, I’m not sure I’d bother as you’ll be missing out on the best bits.

@CelieandNettie Vancouver Island is 400 miles long! Would you go around the uk in less than a week!? Savour it and enjoy VI. Why go to Banff? It’s very touristy. Try and look at other scenic areas - lots of possibilities in the Rockies that aren’t the highest prices.

From VI you can get the ferry to Prince Rupert! Have an adventure from there!

Well I loved Banff. Yes it was busy (and expensive) but I felt at home there. We did Calgary, Rockies, flew to VI and ferry to Vancouver. Lots of days out and hiking. Would go back in a heartbeat. Could easily have spent a week on Vancouver Island.

We took the scenic ferry from the north of Vancouver (Port Hardy) along the coast (spectacular scenery, takes a full day) to Prince Rupert (near Alaska). Spent a few days there wild life watching by sea plane, then took the train to Jasper, also spectacular, takes a couple of days. Then hiked around Jasper for 5 days and flew home from Calgary.. amazing trip and highly recommend!

@ThroughTheMirrorEmpireThat’s exactly what I meant! Just great and there should be decent wildlife watching too. Definitely better than following the herds to Banff.

Tagging on as we have a trip planned next year. We are using the Rocky Mountaineer as it is a long held ambition. But plan to also spend at least a week on Vancouver island as the wildlife watching is a big draw.

We did that as a road trip. - it was great! We stayed in Banff,jasper and on a ranch between jasper and Vancouver for a couple of nights at a time so the drive was broken up. There’s ours to see along the way - deffo worth it imo

Driving the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Lake Louise is one of the best things I've ever experienced. Lake Louise itself was breathtaking. Not sure what Jasper is like now after the wildfires but when we went it was stunning. We stayed in Jasper (Fairmont - lovely but pricey) and then Calgary with family. The drive is quite long but doable.

I did this in 1987 on my honeymoon then did it again with our children in 2011. It was amazing but we compared photos of the glaciers and was quite frightening to see how far they had retreated in 24 years.

From memory we spent 3 nights Banff (drove straight from airport)
1 night lake Louise . 2 nights jasper. 2 nights cowboy ranch
Best holiday I’ve ever had!

@Dunnocantthinkofonesorry to hijack but please tell me about the cowboy ranch!

https://frontier-canada.co.uk/holiday/sundance-guest-ranch-riding-holiday-in-british-columbia/

it was a holiday ranch rather than working but was great as there were rides/activities suitable for the children so it was a suitable version for my 10year old to participate

To add to others - I would recommend Canmore to stay at as a base for Banff etc.. it’s a lovely mountain town and not far from Banff itself. The reason Banff is very expensive is there are huge restrictions on what’s allowed to be built on there. Canmore is about 15-20 mins drive and I have also seen people bike on the trail between the two towns as well as an activity in itself.

i was a little disappointed in Whistler - very expensive for any activities and even a gondola ride would have set us back around 200cad for the family just a visit to the top and back! Just felt ripped off everywhere!

if you want a nice half way stop between Vancouver and Calgary, I would highly recommend the Okanagan Valley, particularly Kelowna area. Stunning and the weather is often wonderful.

vancouver was lovely too, unfortunately didn’t have time for VI ourselves as that looks a trip in itself!

sounds amazing whatever you do.. stunning part of the world! But jeez - insanely expensive!

Oh and if you’re not staying at lake Louise itself: to visit LL and Lake moraine (the latter in my opinion, even more beautiful), then you need to go to canadian parks website and ensure to book the shuttle from lake Louise car park for both a good time ahead. There’s also expensive private shuttle options too. In any event, you cannot drive to lake moraine yourself and parking at lake louise (by the chateau) is pretty difficult too unless staying at the chateau itself